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MyspaceCalifornia Highway Patrol officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic crash of a tractor trailer into a cottage home on Tuesday, August 24, killing the three residents who lived there.
The truck driver in the fatal collision, Joaquin Morales, had been cited 17 times for vehicle code infractions since 2001, including twice for maintenance of the brakes of his vehicle. Brake failure is believed to be the cause of last week’s crash. All the incidents took place in Ventura County, where Morales lives.
Authorities say he drove his truck — which he owned — up to Santa Ynez to a quarry to fill two trailers — which he was leasing — with gravel. Before getting on Highway 154, Morales experienced some sort of brake issue, but thought he had resolved it before entering the highway. Once he made it over the grade and began descending, however, he realized he had problems, authorities said. He made it down Highway 154, crossed over Highway 101, maneuvered the truck into a parking lot behind Palapa Restaurant, and plowed into three parked cars there. His vehicle and two cars spilled down an embankment at the back of the lot, into the small cottage where the three victims lived. Witnesses described smoke billowing from the vehicle’s tires, and CHP officials said Morales — who was treated at the hospital for minor injuries and has been released — tried at least three different braking systems.
A funeral mass for the three victims — Lorena Guadalupe-Tellez Pacheco, 27, Leon Leonel, 23, and Jaciel Adalberto Tellez Pacheco, eight — was held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on Friday. The same day, a fundraiser was held at Hope Ranch Inn. Supervisors Doreen Farr and Janet Wolf were set to meet with Caltrans and CHP officials on Wednesday to talk about truck traffic and safety on Highway 154.
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Comments
Why didn't he just careen into the side of the hill on the 154 or drive off the road completely? Nobody would have been hurt, except him.
The truck driver's decision to cross State Street and crash in a populated area between a hotel and a restaurant makes no sense.
Any halfway alert person would have driven a vehicle without brakes away from populated areas, not directly at one.
Lars (anonymous profile)
September 2, 2010 at 9:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There was no mention of what I see as the crux of this matter: Why was the truck driver allowed to continue driving after receiving 17 safety citations, including some for the condition of his truck's brakes? It appears that some officials must be reluctant to take unsafe drivers off the road, thus leading to this terrible disaster.
There is no mention of whether the conditions leading to the citations were ever rectified, in order for the driver to continue to operate his vehicle. What procedures were in place to assure his compliance with the law? Was he simply issued those citations and made to pay the fines - and then just let go with his truck in that same unsafe condition?
Additionally, the driver even admitted that he had experienced problems with his braking system: "Before getting on Highway 154, Morales experienced some sort of brake issue, but thought he had resolved it before entering the highway" according to the article. He is obviously a driver who is in denial (he "thought he had resolved it [the problem] before entering the highway" ??).
It's not 154 that causes accidents, it's unsafe drivers and unsafe vehicles.
BETTYPIANO (anonymous profile)
September 3, 2010 at 12:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As the economy deflates from the Greenspan housing bubble the construction industry is in terrible trouble. Jobs go to the cheapest contractors, the ones who can cut every corner. Thanks Alan you dried up failure masquerading as an economist.
starly88 (anonymous profile)
September 3, 2010 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please tell us that the mater will be referred to the DA for vigorous prosecution and that this MORON truck crasher will face the severest braking system of the law in his successful conviction & subsequent lengthy prison sentence thereby stopping him from ever again operating a motor vehicle.
Draxor (anonymous profile)
September 4, 2010 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't bet on it Draxor. In fact he'll probably have a fine and be back on the road. Watch out for it in your rear view.
rabbitrun (anonymous profile)
September 5, 2010 at 12:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We must at all costs, observe NAFTA!
dou4now (anonymous profile)
September 7, 2010 at 12:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)